Understanding Beef Labels

A beef label can contain mandatory information, voluntary production claims,
brand language and marketing descriptions. Learning to separate those
categories makes labels much easier to understand.

Some information is required

Depending on how and where a meat product is packaged and sold, Canadian
labelling requirements can address matters such as the common name, net
quantity, responsible party, storage instructions and other prescribed
information.

Production claims tell a different story

Terms describing how cattle were raised or fed are method-of-production
claims. Such claims should be truthful, not misleading and capable of being
substantiated where required.

Look closely at the wording

“No added hormones,” “grass-fed,” “organic,” “local,” “pasture-raised” and
similar phrases do not all mean the same thing and should not be treated as
interchangeable.

A label cannot tell you everything

A package has limited space. Buying directly from a farmer creates an
opportunity to ask about feeding, finishing, animal-health practices,
processing and the origin of the cattle in much greater detail.